Addressing Climate
Change
The effects of climate change are far reaching affecting individuals,
communities, businesses and governments the world over. It is for this
reason that all sectors of society are now looking for ways to both
minimise and deal with the effects climate change will have in the future.
Solutions
Taking action
Reducing emissions
Governments can:
 In 2006, the UK Government
outlined a Climate Change Bill
to reduce emissions by 60%
by 2050 (UK Government
2006)
The primary cause of climate
change is increased levels of
greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere (UNEP 2007). The
main greenhouse gas is carbon
dioxide which is produced by the
burning of fossil fuels such as coal,
oil and natural gas to produce
energy (PEW Centre on Global
Climate Change 2007). These fuels
are used to produce electricity and
for transport around the world.
Introduce policies and legislation
that:
There are two ways in which
greenhouse gas levels can be
reduced:
 Introduce technologies and
techniques to cut their operational
energy use.
 Emissions can be prevented or
reduced at their source by halting
the emission causing activity
altogether (i.e. not driving a car),
by introducing more energy
efficient methods (i.e. using
energy efficient light bulbs), or by
using alternative energy sources
such as wind or solar that produce
fewer emissions.
 Improve the energy efficiency of
products they produce such as
electrical appliances and vehicles.
 Secondly, carbon sequestration
involves using ‘sinks’ that absorb
carbon dioxide. Trees and plants
on land and in the sea for
example remove carbon dioxide
from the atmosphere through
photosynthesis (UNSW 2004).
Individuals can:
 In 2001, in San Francisco
USA, the community voted in
favour of an initiative that paid
for solar panels, increased
energy efficiency and wind
turbines for public facilities
(The Vote Solar Initiative
2007).
 Mexico was the first large oil
producing nation to ratify the
Kyoto Protocol (Pew Center
on Global Climate Change
2007).
 In 2007 the German
Environment Minister
announced that he will work
towards doubling the amount
of non-fossil fuel energies in
Germany by 2020 (Deutsche
Well World 2007).
 Wal-Mart, the world’s largest
retailer is aiming to cut
emissions by 20% by 2012.
This is also expected to
reduce operating costs
(Mongabay.com 2006).
 Brazil offers tax incentives for
buyers of cars with lower
emissions (Pew Center on
Global Climate Change
2007).
 In India in 2000 energy policy
initiatives reduced carbon
dioxide emissions by 5%
(Pew Center 2007).
Solutions at all levels
All sectors of society play a part in
activities that produce greenhouse
gases. Solutions must therefore
involve individuals, communities,
businesses and governments, and
action must take place at the local,
national and international level.
 Support alternative energy
sources such as wind and solar.
 Promote energy efficiency and
conservation by businesses and
households.
 Establish carbon trading schemes.
Businesses can:
 Become carbon neutral by
offsetting their emissions.
 Save money by reducing their
energy use.
 A good place to start is to
calculate your current impact. See
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/Climate_Chang
e/What_You_Can_Do/carbon_neutral.asp
for a range of online calculators.
 Simple changes in your energy
consumption such as turning lights
off, and using your car less can
reduce your impact.
Communities can: see over the
page for suggestions for action.
Clean Up the World Pty Ltd ACN 054 915 249 ABN 65 054 915 249  18 Bridge Road, Glebe NSW 2037 Australia
tel 61 2 9269 0700  fax 61 2 9692 0761  email world@cleanup.com.au  website www.cleanuptheworld.org
Community Action
Action needs to be taken by all sectors of society. Action at the
community level not only has the potential to minimise and deal with the
effects of climate change directly, it also has the power to influence and
bring about change in other sectors such as business and government.
Community Action
 Calculate your
individual/family/community carbon
dioxide emissions, set a reduction
target and make a plan of action to
achieve it. See
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/Climate
_Change/What_You_Can_Do/carbo
n_neutral.asp or
http://www.earthday.net/
 Encourage government and
politicians (local, state and national)
to introduce emission reduction
targets, and policies that encourage
renewable energy. The UNFCC
(2007) has recommended that
industrialised countries need to
reduce their emissions by 60-80%
by 2050.
 Encourage your local government to
join Cities for Climate Protection at
www.iclei.org/co2/
 Protect trees and forests.
Deforestation and land use change
accounts for as much as 25% of
global greenhouse gas emissions
(Conservation International 2007).
 Organise a tree planting program
See the Billion Tree Campaign
website for information and support
materials http://www.unep.org/billiontreecamp
aign/index.asp (in English, French,
Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic).
 Avoid excess packaging. Reducing
waste will help cut emissions
(Climate Crisis 2007). See the CUW
Waste in the Environment and
Plastic Bags Information Sheets.
 Encourage schools to include
climate change content in the
curriculum.
 Explore alternative energies such
as solar cookers – see
http://www.solarcooking.org/docs.ht
m (in 15 languages).
 In areas affected by drought, water
may be scarce. Look at ways to be
more water efficient and consider
additional water storage – see
http://practicalaction.org/practicalan
swers/ and the CUW Water
Conservation Information Sheet.
 Talk to your teacher or employer
about organising a walk to
work/school day.
 Agricultural biodiversity provides
resistance to changing conditions.
Maintaining diverse seed supplies
and being flexible in the types of
crops that can be grown are key
adaptation strategies.
http://www.ukabc.org/ and
http://www.fao.org/biodiversity/
 Raise awareness in your community
– use a local hall or town square to
establish a central information point,
erect public noticeboards, organise
dances, plays or poster
competitions. Keep messages
simple for maximum effect.
 Approach local media such as radio
to include one-off and/or ongoing
segments on climate change.
 Remember to share your successes
as widely as possible - notify media,
CUW and other local, national and
international organisations.
Please see the References section
and CUW Internet Resource List for
more useful websites on this issue.
References
Climate Crisis, ten things to do, viewed 12
March 2007,
http://www.climatecrisis.net/pdf/10things.p
df
Conservation International, 2007, Climate
Change, viewed 12 March 2007,
http://www.conservation.org/xp/CIWEB/pr
ograms/climatechange/
Deutsche Well World, 2007, German
Companies World-Leaders in Renewable
Energy, viewed 12 March 2007,
http://www.dwworld.de/dw/article/0,2144,2355370,00.ht
ml
Mongabay.com, 2006, A Green Walmart?
viewed 12 March 2007,
http://news.mongabay.com/2006/0208walmart.html
Pew Center on Global Climate Change,
Climate Change Mitigation in Developing
Countries, viewed 12 March 2007,
http://www.pewclimate.org/globalwarming-indepth/all_reports/climate_change_mitigati
on/dev_mitigation_execs.cfm
The Vote Solar Initiative, Regional
Initiatives, viewed 12 March 2007,
http://www.votesolar.org/stateinitiatives/regional.html
UK Government, 2006, Government unveils
Climate Change Bill, 16 November 2006,
viewed 12 March 2007,
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroo
m/DG_064897
UNEP (United Nations Environment
Program) 2007, World Environment Day –
5 June 2007, Factsheet, viewed 12 March
2007,http://www.unep.org/wed/2007/down
loads/documents/Factsheet_en.pdf
UNFCC (United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change), 2007,
UNFCC Executive Secretary calls for
speedy and decisive action on climate
change, viewed 12 March 2007,
http://unfccc.int/files/press/news_room/pre
ss_releases_and_advisories/application/p
df/070202press_rel_paris_en.pdf
UNSW (University of New South Wales),
2004, Managing the Greenhouse,
Workbook for Master of Environmental
Management, Graduate Certificate &
Graduate Diploma. UNSW, Sydney.
Document last updated March 2007
Clean Up the World Pty Ltd ACN 054 915 249 ABN 65 054 915 249  18 Bridge Road, Glebe NSW 2037 Australia
tel 61 2 9269 0700  fax 61 2 9692 0761  email world@cleanup.com.au  website www.cleanuptheworld.org